§ MR. R. LONGsaid, he would beg to ask, Whether a ship belonging to the Confederate Navy would have the same right to search and make prize of an English vessel carrying contraband of war to a Federal Port that a Federal war vessel would exercise in the case of a British ship carrying contraband of war to a Confederate Port; and, if not, whether such partiality in favour of one of two belligerent Powers is reconcilable with the "strict neutrality" professed by Her Majesty's Government?
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, in reply, said, there could be no doubt whatever that a Confederate vessel would have exactly the same right to visit, search, and capture a British vessel carrying contraband of war to a Federal port as a Federal vessel would to act in like manner to a British vessel carrying contraband to a Confederate port; but it should always be remembered that neither Federal or Confederate was entitled to make any such capture except for the purpose of taking such ship for adjudication before a competent Prize Court.